Just because we lost to the Lions doesn't mean we can't analyze good and bad spots from today's game. As always here's the [URL="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/10/redskins-lions_best_and_worst.html"]link[/URL] from Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog.

Personal Best and Worst:
Best:
1. Banks' electrifying punt and kickoff returns. Huge reason why we were able to stay in today's game. Some could say only reason we stayed in today's game. The NFL is now on notice.
2. Offense taking advantage of good field position, unlike last week.

Worst:
Well, where to start. We all know this one will be a long list.

1. Offensive line play. The bad far outweighed the good. McNabb was on his back more than a hooker in a whorehouse. And even on plays where he was able to get rid of the ball, it f'd with his psyche. Bad offensive line play affects a qb in a lot of ways. It makes them see pressure that isn't there. It makes them throw off their back feet to get rid of the ball quicker. It leads to bad decision making, and throws that are off target and off balance. I doubt even the best of qb's could've played decent behind our outmatched offensive line today.
1a. McNabb's pick. Well duh. This was just a bad decision. Armstrong had 3 defenders wrapped around him. I prefer to think this was the result of McNabb's not being able to trust his line to give him enough time and him deciding to force that ball in there. I'm sure others will just say this one is all on McNabb. Either way, he threw the ball into a crowd of 3 defenders, which is an inexcusable bad decision especially with the game on the line.
2. Defense. Just keep them out of the end zone. I know our special teams gave you a short field, but if Matt Stafford doesn't throw 4 touchdowns they don't win the game. They exploited the zone coverage. I understand zone gives us a better chance at getting turnovers, but it's also easier to complete passes against if you know where the soft spots are. And they anticipated the rush. We need to be better off the snap too, because they got that ball out extremely quickly on that Pettigrew touchdown. Teams know how to figure this defense out, and we obviously can't rely on forcing turnovers every drive.
3. Special teams: Yeah I'm bringing them into this, because week after week we see Brandon Banks bust off great returns that continually get called back for the same 2 penalties: holding, or block in the back. And it's even worse when you see the infraction in question and it's so far away from the ball it's not funny. Just don't do it. Discipline is lacking on special teams this season.
4. Small mention goes to Fred Davis, for dropping 2 2 point conversions. I know the balls were high but you're supposed to bring those in. He even went back to you on the second 2 point conversion. You don't see the field too often because coaches obviously don't have confidence in you to do your job well.
5. Before I forget, the coaching staff. K.Shanny needs to play to his players' strengths better (read: get the ball out quicker, or start max protecting more), and Mike Shanny needs to not make impulsive decisions like benching his star qb at the end of the 4th quarter while down by 6 points and the game's on the line. There's no chance a rusty, crappy qb like Grossman would've been the solution after sitting on the bench for 58 minutes.

That covers the big ones imo. I'm sure I'm missing other things as well, but someone can fill in the blanks.

Philly can't come fast enough, mainly just because I don't want to read 2 weeks of coverage blasting Mike Shanahan for benching McNabb. (Make no mistake, that one is all on Shanny. There could be repercussions that go beyond this season.)

diehard

11-01-2010 01:26 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

Is McNabb's contract extension, or lack thereof, become a distraction to him?

Best:
1. Run Defense overall I thought was pretty solid.
2. Add Banks to the list of great "finds" along with Torrain and Armstrong this year. In fact I think he is a better find than both.

Aweful:
1. Shanny decision to bring in Rex was poor, his excuse of why was worse.
2. Oline is not just average, its still relatively poor. We need to continue to build it with new talent in the interior and we need to make a decision on Jamal Brown...can he stay healthy? If not, that should be priority 1.
3. We need to a couple running backs. Portis, Torrain, and K Williams are very slow. I do to a certain extent like the each one, but we need a threat. We were pathetic against a defense that has been destroyed by the run.
4. Kyle Shanny effing bootleg to start the game and then throw the ball deep in our territory with 4:30 minutes to go after we just gotten a 5 yard run. Pathetic. You've been a bigger disappointment than Jamal Brown at tackle. The offense has gotten worse as the season has gone on, it starts at the top with you.
5. Trying to cover Megatron was a fail.

MTK

11-01-2010 08:42 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

All starts with the OL right now. Too bad we couldn't have benched all of them rather than McNabb.

Anthony Armstrong-A late bloomer in the NFL, but he's proving he belongs

QB Controversy-Finally! What's Redskins football without an annual QB controversy? I might as well just become a Colts fan

Worst

QB Controversy-Really Mike? Now? Now's when you decide you're not happy with McNabb? Still, I don't blame Grossman for that fumble. I blame the...

Offensive Line-Trent Williams finally had that disastrous rookie game I think we all should have expected probably much earlier. Not being 100% healthy isn't helping for him but that's life in the NFL. Jammal Brown could be a one and done if he shows no signs of getting healthy himself. Artis Hicks has been a big disappointment and Kory L should be playing center, in my opinion. I think it might be time to get Will Montgomery back in the starting line up. They need to shore up that middle of the OL because there's no reason that the lead rusher is...

Donovan McNabb, who also should have known better than to throw that INT at the end. It wasn't the game ender but it certainly didn't help. I expect that type of pass from the previous #5 here

MTK

11-01-2010 10:56 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

Trent got schooled yesterday, no way around it.

GMScud

11-01-2010 11:09 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

[quote=SmootSmack;754760]Best:

Brandon Banks-A true threat to score every time he touches the ball

Anthony Armstrong-A late bloomer in the NFL, but he's proving he belongs

QB Controversy-Finally! What's Redskins football without an annual QB controversy? I might as well just become a Colts fan

Worst

QB Controversy-Really Mike? Now? Now's when you decide you're not happy with McNabb? Still, I don't blame Grossman for that fumble. I blame the...

Offensive Line-Trent Williams finally had that disastrous rookie game I think we all should have expected probably much earlier. Not being 100% healthy isn't helping for him but that's life in the NFL. Jammal Brown could be a one and done if he shows no signs of getting healthy himself. Artis Hicks has been a big disappointment and Kory L should be playing center, in my opinion. I think it might be time to get Will Montgomery back in the starting line up. They need to shore up that middle of the OL because there's no reason that the lead rusher is...

Donovan McNabb, who also should have known better than to throw that INT at the end. It wasn't the game ender but it certainly didn't help. I expect that type of pass from the previous #5 here[/quote]

Agree.

For me-

Best: Brandon Banks.

Worst: Everything else. Including coaching.

SFREDSKIN

11-01-2010 11:09 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

Best:

Banks
AH
Landry
Armstrong

Worst:

Daniels Penalty led to Lions TD instead of FG
Doughty's penalty on Banks return erased TD
Switching QB's on final drive and the fumble
OL
Hunter Smith punting gave Lions good field position many times

GTripp0012

11-01-2010 11:42 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

Our WR corps have been an [B]overachieving[/B] unit this year, compared to the OL, RBs, QBs, and offensive coaching, who have all underachived.

Still, we need Roydell Williams to be the 3rd receiver, by tomorrow. Joey Galloway can have a retirement party. I'll pay for it. I'm okay with a Banks/Terence Austin platoon as the 4th/WR package player.

skinsfan69

11-01-2010 11:44 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

[quote=GTripp0012;754790]Our WR corps have been an [B]overachieving[/B] unit this year, compared to the OL, RBs, QBs, and offensive coaching, who have all underachived.

Still, we need Roydell Williams to be the 3rd receiver, by tomorrow. Joey Galloway can have a retirement party. I'll pay for it. I'm okay with a Banks/Terence Austin platoon as the 4th/WR package player.[/quote]

I'd get Banks on the field over Galloway and Williams. I don't want to see either of them on the field... ever, ever again.

skinsfan69

11-01-2010 11:46 AM

Re: Redskins-Lions: Best and Worst

WORST... this guy Lick and Rabach simply can't hold up against big strong DLinemen. I have no idea why Dock isn't even suiting up. I'm starting to really question this coaching staff.